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ENTREPRENEURIAL UPBEAT: Vol. 6, No. 1

September 28, 2012

WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR!

If you’re starting out new here at CU, WELCOME! If you’re a returning student, WELCOME BACK! We’ve got an action-packed year lined up for you here at the ECM, and this weekly e-letter is your one-stop-portal of information on guests and goings on – both here at the College of Music and in the world of arts and culture overall. Here are a few things to put on your radar:

Entrepreneurship Wednesdays Returns!

This is our weekly workshop series on all things related to your career and professional development. You can come as often as you like for as little or as much of the session as you can. The semester line-up will be coming soon, and in case you forget you can’t possibly miss the giant stand-up banner in the lobby on Wednesdays! J

Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30

C-113 (Conference Room)

Free Pizza!

ECM Open House This Wednesday

We’ll kick off this semester’s Entrepreneurship Wednesdays THIS WEEK with an ECM Open House. Stop by and learn more about the many services, courses, and events we offer, as well as visit our INTERNSHIP FAIR, with descriptions of the variety of internships available to students. If nothing else, drop in for a piece of pizza and tell me how you spent your summer!

Wednesday, Aug. 29

5:00-6:30

C-113

Free Pizza! (We eat a lot of pizza at the ECM)

CU GIGS is your source for extra $$ and performing opportunities

CU GIGS is the College of Music’s gig booking service, and an entrepreneurial venture of the ECM. If you’re interested in being part of a database for all manner of gig requests we get here at the College of Music, just fill out the informational form (on the door of the ECM Office) and turn it in to the ECM. Our CU GIGS Coordinator Nathan Hall will then work to connect you with gigs that come into our Musician Referral Line. For more info, contact Nathan at: musicreferral@Colorado.EDU

It’s time…

I have a confession: I’ve never liked the name “Entrepreneurship Wednesdays.” It’s clunky and long-winded, and “the e word” is just too fraught with misunderstanding. So we’re going to have a contest to come up with a new name. I haven’t quite decided to how to structure it yet, but there will be a cool prize and your idea will live on in perpetuity! So start thinking & stay tuned… -JN

ENTREPRENEURIAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: New beginnings

There are two kinds of entrepreneurs. First there are those who have a particular passion or interest they want to express through an entrepreneurial venture, and who have the expectation of sticking with that venture for the long-term (maybe even for life if it works out well). Then there are “serial entrepreneurs.” Their vaguely sinister identifier aside, serial entrepreneurs fascinate me: their main passion is simply starting new things. They don’t particularly care what it is as long as it’s new, innovative, and has some promise for success. Once they get their venture up and running, they’re on to the next thing. They simply get a kick out of creating something that didn’t exist before.

In considering the nature of serial entrepreneurs, it occurs to me that they have some qualities that we as artists would do well to emulate. For starters, they are perhaps the most creative of all entrepreneurs: they come at each new project with a fresh outlook and an open mind, assessing each situation on its own merits and devising unique and creative solutions to best tackle the challenges that are presented. Another quality of serial entrepreneurs is that each project is an opportunity for them to experience the joy of discovery and creation: they live in a world of fresh beginnings and continuous new challenges. Lastly, serial entrepreneurs embrace failure. I’ve never met a group of people who wear their failures as proudly on their sleeves as serial entrepreneurs: “Yeah, I’ve started six businesses in my career so far. Four of them tanked, one was a huge success, and one was an unmitigated disaster…” But here’s the thing: they see each one of those failures as opportunities to learn, to grow, and to improve – not to mention, the opportunity to move on and start something else yet again.

As musicians there’s a lot for us to learn from serial entrepreneurs. Imagine if each new practice session, each new piece, each new recital, is viewed as a fresh start, a new opportunity to exercise your creativity. Imagine if each challenge you face as a musician could be viewed as a chance to exercise your creativity in finding a solution. And imagine if we could change our mindset about “failure” – not as something to be ashamed of or even minimize, but rather to experience joy in the taking of risks and learn from the times those risks go awry. I’d like to maintain that it would not only make us all better musicians, but it would also make us a lot more fulfilled and happy overall. It also means that we would become more our authentic selves as artists – and that is an essential ingredient to connecting with our audience and finding success with our art. So as we start a new academic year here in the College of Music, I encourage you to consider serial entrepreneurs: what can they teach you about your own artistic development?

The Opportunity UPBEAT! is your weekly listing of job postings and other professional opportunities that come the way of the ECM. Check this space out for jobs, volunteer opportunities, internships, grants, festival auditions, and more!

THE LONGMONT YOUTH SYMPHONY is currently looking for a conductor for their Wind Ensemble. The group has about 20 students, and rehearses weekly in Longmont on Saturdays. See the website below for details and contact information.

CENTER FOR THE CONTINUATION OF ARTS AND CULTURE, in Thornton, is looking for Guitar and Piano Teachers. The CCAC is an arts school dedicated to the enrichment of students in the visual and performing arts. We provide classes in a wide variety of dance styles, music, and visual arts.

You should have a degree or be in pursuit of a degree in Music Performance or Music Education.

Past teaching experience preferred. Outgoing and friendly personality along with consistent professional demeanor. Works well with elementary ages through adults. Someone who is knowledgeable and skilled in more than one instrument area is preferred. Especially knowledgeable and confidant in teaching basic/beginning piano skills in a group and private setting. Knowledge in music theory and aural skills.